Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Tolmie Paterson
Designation:  
Born: 30 December 1864
Died: 22 December 1933
Bio Notes: Thomas Tolmie Paterson was born on 30 December 1864 in Edinburgh, the son of the architect John Paterson and his wife Margaret Tolmie. He was a nephew of the architect and City Assessor Robert Paterson. He was educated at George Watson's College where he showed particular aptitude for cartography and mechanical draughtsmanship. His father having died in July 1877 when he was aged about twelve, he was articled on 1 April 1880 to Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. There he worked on the Catholic Apostolic Church, the Conservative Club and the feuing and development of the Cluny and Fettes estates, in the mid-1880s partly under the supervision of Anderson's partners George Washington Browne and Hew M Wardrop. During his time in Anderson's office he had formed what was described in the RIAS Quarterly obituary as an informal 'associateship' with Lorimer, perhaps on competitions. Paterson remained with Anderson until the end of 1894, commencing independent practice in Edinburgh on 1 January 1895 at 5 York Place. In about 1905 he merged his practice with that of his uncle and moved to 10a George Street with a house at 124 Braid Road. He had what was described as 'a successful term of about ten years' and was admitted FRIBA on 2 December 1907, his proposers being Hippolyte Jean Blanc, Archibald Macpherson and Alexander Hunter Crawford.

In about 1909 the merged practice ran into difficulties. Again in the words of his obituarist, 'happy results did not ensue… The ill health of the principal [Robert Hamilton-Paterson] was closely followed by bad times in the Building Trade affecting the architectural profession.' The practice declined somewhat, and probably as a result of the Finance Act of 1909 which introduced a tax on development he emigrated to Calgary, Canada where he was recorded as having an office at 575 Maclean Block, 8th Avenue.

Paterson was not successful in establishing a practice in Canada and a few years later returned to Edinburgh where he set up practice in about 1920 as a 'Brewers architects and engineer' working from his home at 227 Dalkeith Road. The practice closed within a short time.

Thomas Tolmie Paterson died on 27 December 1933, having resigned from both the RIBA and RIAS a year or two previously, and was buried at Grange Cemetery. His wife Mary Ann Ramsay survived him, dying on 22 May 1950.

Publications:
'Theatre Panics and their Cure, with Plans for a Safe Theatre', 1896

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1013, East Preston Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1864 At time of his birth
Item 2 of 103, Morningside Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1877 Address whilst attending George Watson's.
Item 3 of 1016, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1894 In office of Wardrop & Anderson
Item 4 of 105, York Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1 January 1895c. 1905 
Item 5 of 1010A, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1905 *  
Item 6 of 10124, Braid Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1907 *  
Item 7 of 10575 Maclean Block, 8th Avenue, Calgary, CanadaBusinessAfter 1909Before 1911 
Item 8 of 1013, York Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1914 *  
Item 9 of 10227, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business1923 *  
Item 10 of 10Seafield, Largs Road, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1930 Given as usual address on death certificate, though he died at 3 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow.

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson1 April 18801881Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Anderson & Browne18811883Apprentice 
Item 3 of 5Wardrop, Anderson & Browne18831885Apprentice 
Item 4 of 5Wardrop & Anderson188531 December 1894Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Hamilton-Paterson & PatersonAfter 1909Before 1923Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Thomas John Miller Reid18951899Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Hippolyte Jean Blanc2 December 1907for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Hunter Crawford2 December 1907for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Archibald Macpherson2 December 1907for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Owen Keith Beattie24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Charles Henry Greig4 December 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Victor Daniel Horsburgh2 December 1912for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 281880Conservative Club  EdinburghScotlandAs apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson
Item 2 of 281884Catholic Apostolic Church  EdinburghScotlandAs apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson
Item 3 of 281889Villa, 14 Wester Coates Avenue  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 281895FloristonInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 28After 18957 Hope Street  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction as Post Office
Item 6 of 28After 1895Factory, Fettes Row  EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 28After 1895Factory, Watson CrescentPolwarth EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 28After 1895Home for the AgedPolton MidlothianScotland 
Item 9 of 28After 1895House, East Suffolk Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 28After 1895House, Morningside ParkMorningside EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 28After 1895House, Morningside TerraceMorningside EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 28After 1895Niddrie Mill Public SchoolNiddrie EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 28After 1895Offices and shops, 26-28 Frederick StreetNew Town EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 14 of 28After 1895Presbytery hall for Kinross Parish ChurchKinross Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 15 of 28After 1895Reformatory for GirlsLoanhead MidlothianScotlandReconstruction
Item 16 of 28After 1895Workmen's tenementsGorgie EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 281896George Watson's Athletic Club pavilionMyreside EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 281896House for James Bell of the North British Railway  EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 281897Double villa, Lauder Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 20 of 281898Tenements, Royston Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 21 of 281899Midlothian County Council Buildings  EdinburghScotlandPlaced fifth in competition (entered jointly with Victor Daniel Horsburgh)
Item 22 of 281900Edzell LodgeInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 23 of 281900Memorial to General Wauchope of Niddrie (Celtic Cross)Niddrie Mains EdinburghScotland 
Item 24 of 281902Cardon  EdinburghScotland 
Item 25 of 281902King's Park Burgh SchoolDalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 26 of 281903Carnegie Public LibraryMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandCompetition design exhibited - placed second
Item 27 of 281907W and J Raeburn's Brewery and MaltingsDuddingston EdinburghScotlandFurther buildings
Item 28 of 28c. 1910Castle BreweryCraigmillar/Duddingston EdinburghScotlandLarge maltings

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 3 of 3www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints: Website 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder5 January 1934v146 p10 - obituary
Item 2 of 2RIAS Quarterly1934First quarterRoyal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p42

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 4George Watson's ArchiveRecords of George Watson's Boys College  
Item 2 of 4H M Register HouseDeath Register 27 December 1933.
Item 3 of 4HM New Register HouseOPR (Register of births) 1864
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no1379 (microfilm reel 12)